This week’s theme
Words with movie connections

This week’s words
Rambo
Keystone cop
big chill
bunny boiler
central casting

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Kings who became words

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As someone married to a filmmaker and who taught French cinema (watching every scene over and over), I’m looking forward to this week! But the cerise sur le gâteau, that you made the connection between Rambo and Rimbaud 🐏, is the perfect way to start a Monday 💜. I feel seen! Your fan of many years,
-Diane Beckman, Cary, North Carolina (dibeckman gmail.com)

About the time that the movie, Rambo, came out, I was made aware that Stallone was paid by Big Tobacco to smoke cigarettes in the films. That was such a blatant attempt to make smoking look “cool” that I decided to never see a movie that Stallone appeared in. Somehow, I don’t think I missed anything.
-Jan Smith, Paris, France (forjhsmith gmail.com)

Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy One Up! -- Take no prisoners.

There’s some kind of a lesson about our attitudes in the word Rambo. Morrell’s original book presents the character as a highly intelligent, suffering vet trying to regain his footing after a tour of duty in which he saw his closest friends die and himself tortured in a prison camp. If I remember the book correctly, the opening scene has him visiting the mother of one of the men in his unit who died. This is barely hinted at in the movie.

What Rambo meets is misunderstanding and rejection everywhere. When he’s arrested, he’s taken to the office of the chief of police, who it turns out was a Marine who served in Korea and has a photo of his much-decorated unit on the wall behind him. Rambo recognizes the picture and respects the men in it; the chief sees this “hippie” staring at the photo -- Rambo at this point hasn’t said a single word -- and takes it as an insult.

Rambo is then taken down to the cells where he’s tortured by a sadistic jailer. The movie minimizes this scene. Eventually, Rambo has a flashback to his time in the prison camp. Up to this point, he has passively accepted everything heaped on him. But he snaps and escapes, killing one police officer in the process.

The rest of the book basically centers around a personal confrontation between the police captain and Rambo. Rambo just wants to be left alone, but the captain just cannot let go. While eventually there is plenty of violence, the book shows it as something Rambo is pushed to -- by his training, his war and prison camp experience, and ultimately the small-town cops and their captain. Very different from the violence-as-the-first resort that the word has come to symbolize.
-Jerry Leichter, Stamford, Connecticut (leichter lrw.com)

Before the franchise devolved into the uber-nationalistic malarkey it’s known for today, there was the very first one: First Blood. It’s not like the rest of the series. John Rambo is broken, disenfranchised, and dismissed by the society he thought he’d been fighting for. Rambo is a traumatized and vulnerable person, not the cartoonish musclehead he’d distort into later. He’s a reluctant warrior. I’d bet most self-proclaimed “patriots” would not know this about their symbolic hero.
-James Eng, Cypress, Texas (jameseng hotmail.com)

I was in Peru during Sep 2001. A few days after the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, a newspaper headline in Ayacucho said, “One Million Rambos ready to attack Afghanistan.”
-Doug Saldivar, Welches, Oregon (plazatrail gmail.com)

The mercurial French football player Eric Cantona, was banned multiple times in France for assaulting teammates, other players, referees, and abusive spectators.

When he transferred to Leeds in 1992 and the press asked him to name a hero, he cited Rimbaud. This was eagerly quoted in the press as Rambo.
-Peter Jennings, Stony Lake, Canada (peterj benlo.com)

Idiocracy has stuck with me, and has become unfortunately prescient. Lots of favorite lines. Dax Shepard: “I like money.” And, “He broke my house!” I have frequently recommended this film.
-Sam Hochberg, Portland, Oregon (sambikelaw aol.com)

Everything you need to know about life can be learned from watching “Moonstruck”. If you have a problem, just “Snap out of it!” If that doesn’t work for you, “Over on the wall, get me the big knife.”
-Dennis Martinez, Buffalo, New York (allentownie2009 gmail.com)

My favorite movie is Dark Victory (1939) in which Bette Davis plays a rich spoiled socialite whose life is emotionally empty. When she learns she has a brain tumor she undergoes surgery to remove it. She is deeply in love with her doctor who doesn’t want her to know he couldn’t get all the tumor and survival isn’t possible. Prognosis negative... those were the gut-wrenching words I still recall. She will suddenly go blind and die a few hours later. The conflict: what will she do ... her decision is to live each day with courage and dignity. I cry every time she climbs the stairs a final time, goes to her room, lays down on her bed, and is symbolically victor over the dark.
-Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (powerjanice782 gmail.com)

I recommend The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Brilliant early Technicolor, gorgeous costumes, score by Korngold, expert sword-fighting by Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone. One clip, with Flynn saying “Welcome to Sherwood”, appears in a Bugs Bunny short.

In an early scene, Robin describes the mistreatment of the Saxons by Prince John’s men:

Robin Hood: We Saxons aren’t going to put up with these oppressions much longer. [...]
Lady Marion: Why, you speak treason!
Robin Hood: Fluently.

Still relevant today.
-Pat Preston, Ann Arbor, Michigan (prestonp umich.edu)

My favorite line of all time, useful in many different situations, repeated as Bill Murray does so convincingly in Meatballs: “It just doesn’t “matter!” (3 min.)
-Patti Trahern, Prescott, Arizona (patti.trahern gmail.com)

Auntie Mame is my favorite movie, starring the inimitable Rosalind Russell. Here’s the quote:
“Live, Live, Live. Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.”
-Linda Lampson, Rohnert Park, California (lllampson gmail.com)

My favorite movie of all time is The Godfather. Of course, that movie is chock full of quotes, overflowing with famously great lines such as “Make him an offer he can’t refuse.” One of my faves that doesn’t get too much attention: “A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.”
-Christopher Alden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (calmichigan gmail.com)

Lawrence of Arabia is one of my favorite movies. I have seen it countless times. A few months ago I was lucky enough to watch it on the big screen in a theater with a tremendous sound system, and it felt like I was viewing it for the first time. It had me smiling for four hours from the opening music to the end credits!
-David Santangelo, Stevens Point, Wisconsin (dcsantangelo2005 comcast.net)

It’s inconceivable that a day should pass when I don’t quote something or other from The Princess Bride.
-Rachel connor, Christchurch, New Zealand (star.dustconnor gmail.com)

The film that has stayed longest with me is The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. I believe it is the first film that John Huston directed. It starred his father Walter Huston, Tim Holt, and Humphrey Bogart. Tim Holt was mostly a western star, but in this film, he actually acts. Same for Humphrey Bogart. In many (most?) of his films he is mostly just a presence, but here he demonstrates character development.
-Jim Hunter, Colorado Springs, Colorado (alleghenyjim comcast.net)

My favorite movie of all time is Spielberg’s movie of the holocaust, Schindler’s List. I cried after it was over and haven’t been able to to watch it again.
-Howard Freedman, MD, Naples, Florida (freedmanh comcast.net)

Magic Boy, 1959. Jimi Hendrix makes reference to being a magic boy at least once in his lyrics. I gave a talk (73 min.) on his life about four years ago and I think I’m the first and only person to note that this obscure 1959 animated Japanese film might be the source for that expression. Jimi was interested in outer space -- UFOs, Jupiter, etc. -- so he might have seen this film in New York, and put the title into his lexicon.
-Robert Berend, Los Angeles, California (tactile8888 yahoo.com)

The Shawshank Redemption stands as my most cherished film. While it begins at a measured pace, the story masterfully builds to an incredibly rewarding conclusion in its final moments. The film’s powerful message about hope, beautifully captured in the quote “Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies,” perfectly encapsulates why this masterpiece resonates so deeply with me. Every element of the film, from its deliberate pacing to its profound storytelling, creates an unforgettable cinematic experience.
-Ayshwarya Rajagopalan, Santa Clara, California (ayshwarya21 gmail.com)

Politically incorrect as it may be in 2025, it’s Blazing Saddles that sticks with me -- so many ridiculous moments. The campfire scene, the wonderful Madeleine Kahn, and Mel Brooks as Governor Lepetomane.

Lepetomane resents any work that takes him away from his pursuit of pleasure (especially the charms of his secretary). In one scene, he is required to sign some documents -- in the minute or so he is required to fulfill his duties, he mutters, “Work, work, work, work, work.” That’s the only “work” we see him doing in the film.

Two other movies that framed my early college days have stayed with me. In the summer of 1979 I first saw Breaking Away, and that Sep I started at Indiana University, taking in all those sites I had just seen on screen. 1980 brought Fame, which was screened in one of the dorms. Of course, all of us music majors thought we would become famous, too! Didn’t turn out that way, but those movies have remained close to my heart.
-Jim Watson, Pikesville, Maryland (jwatson6 jhmi.edu)

Several years ago the Shaw Festival (in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada) had a production of The Madness of King George. When Tom McCamus, as King George III, came on stage just before the play started, he sat down at his desk, centre stage, and proceeded to sign some documents. The man sitting behind us, clearly a fan of Blazing Saddles, whispered “Work, work, work, work, work” just loudly enough for us to hear him. At intermission we all had a good laugh.
-Judy Malkin, Toronto, Canada (jgmalkin rogers.com)

I am not a film buff as such, but when Mme Kumar at the Smithsonian sponsored a great Satyajit Ray retrospective nearly thirty years ago, with some of the great stars of those films coming to speak, I saw 26 of the 36 shown. By that time I was practically speaking Bengali ... film for film in quality and impact, Ray was one of the greatest directors in the world. And he influenced Kurosawa and Scorsese.
-Judith Judson, Pittsford, New York (jjudson frontier.com)

In adolescence, I first saw Gone With the Wind, after my mother recommended the book to her restless introverted twelve-year-old. Since then, after multiple film viewings and re-reads, over the years, this senior citizen now admits that Scarlett’s attitude has helped in many situations. “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” (video, 1 min.)
-Ann Smiley, Middleton, Wisconsin (salutsmiley gmail.com)

I love this line from Dr Strangelove: “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the war room.”
-Norm Samuelson, Oak Harbor, Washington (norm.samuelson gmail.com)

Two movies have stuck with me from my youth. The themes of courage and perseverance portrayed in these movies have inspired me for most of my life. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962) are two of my most memorable. (I was 10 and 15 years old.) And, if you listen to the music from Bridge, I guarantee you’ll be humming or whistling and marching to the theme all day.
-Paul Wiese, La Crosse, Wisconsin (pgw1015 gmail.com)

The film I’ve watched more times than any other is Casablanca. The phrase uttered in the film by Claude Rains’ gleefully corrupt police chief character Louie, “I’m shocked, shocked to find that ...” has been in my family’s lexicon for years, the end filled in with a variety of situations where someone is pretending not to know the truth. “You wore blue, the Germans wore gray ...” is one of Humphrey Bogart’s best statements, as is (eager couple hoping to convince Louie to let them leave Casablanca, and having been granted an appointment the next day): “We’ll be there at six!” Louie: “I’ll be there at ten.” The film also has musical numbers, comedy, pathos, tragedy ... all rolled into one. I think I can safely say I’ve watched it more than 40 times.
-Marc Chelemer, Tenafly, New Jersey (mc2496 att.com)

So many familiar movie quotes are irrevocably attached to their characters, the message so seldom free-standing: “I’m ready for my close-up” belongs only to Gloria Swanson’s Norma Desmond just as “I coulda been a contender!” could only be Marlon Brando’s Terry Malloy.

But there is a supremely penetrating and pungently ironic statement about the nature of man delivered by Orson Welles as Harry Lime in The Third Man as he obliquely assesses his own culpability in the recent crimes of WWII:

“In Italy, for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had 500 years of democracy and peace -- and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. So long Holly!”

(Legend has it that Orson created the speech extemporaneously just before the cameras rolled. It was not in the original script by Graham Greene -- and one can easily imagine the twinkle in Orson’s Eyes!)
-Dave Campbell, Dayton, Washington (museumofdave gmail.com)

We have twin sons, Adam and Aaron, who are now 44 years old. Forty years ago, Paramount Pictures was making a movie called Top Gun and filmed much of it in San Diego. They needed identical twin boys to play the son, Bradley, of Meg Ryan and Anthony Edwards. Our sons took turns playing the one son in three scenes. They were just considered extras and did not receive credit in the original movie.
-Martha Awdziewicz, San Diego, California (jawas mindspring.com)

I once played a small part in Icon, a now forgotten film shot in Bulgaria with Patrick Swayze. I thought it would be my 15 minutes of fame until I found out the scene was finally cut by the director.

I was originally cast as the head of French intelligence but the director felt my accent wasn’t French enough and decided to switch to some other country I don’t quite remember, possibly Spain but I was slightly puzzled!

When I saw the completed movie I still expected to see myself even though I knew the scene had been cut! 🤪
-Paul Varotsis, Monte-Carlo, Monaco (paul.varotsis icloud.com)

I think everybody wants to be in the movies at one time or another. My opportunity came in 1995 (or 1996. I can’t remember which, but it was winter) when they filmed part of the movie Tin Cup in the Kingwood area north of Houston where they have a world class golf course, and, most importantly, it looks like summer in the middle of winter. They filmed on one of the coldest days of the year and since the sun was shining, I guess they forgot to order coffee instead of Coca-Cola. As one of thousands of extras, I was never so cold in my life. Because it was supposed to be summer, we were dressed in short sleeve shirts and khaki shorts, pretending to be watching a ball fly over a lake as we cheered and fanned ourselves. It was so cold my knees were actually knocking together... until then, I thought that was just an expression. I was so miserable, hungry, and headachy, I left at noon and didn’t even get to see Renee Russo or Kevin Costner who didn’t come out to film until the afternoon session. Since we were bussed in, I had to walk back to my car parked several miles away.

All in all, it was a worthwhile experience even though I was miserable. Ever since that experience, I’ve never watched a movie without the awareness of what’s going on behind the scenes, and it has always interfered somewhat with my enjoyment of the movie. 😁
-Ivy Kaminsky, Pasadena, Texas (ivykaminsky yahoo.com)

I worked in the film business -- mostly as a sound recordist -- in Miami, around the Caribbean, in New England, NYC, and Hollywood.

M.O.S. An abbreviation of “Mit out sound!” which itself is an abbreviation of “Ve vill shoot zis zeen mit out sound” was spoken by at least one German film director giving commands to American film crews in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.

The phrase means the scene about to be filmed has no dialogue or sound effects that must be captured during the take. Only the film camera would roll, not the audio recorder.

Instead, any sound effects or dialogue needed in the scene would be added later in an audio post-production studio, providing a more controlled environment and far more accurate and appropriate voices and sound effects.

Think of your favorite filmed car chase where the good guys and bad guys are in separate cars, shooting and cursing at one another, squealing their tires and revving their engines as they zoom past sidewalks with crowds of screaming, panicked pedestrians! Capturing an acceptable recording of all those sounds during a live film shoot would add greatly to the day’s cost. But in a studio, with the actors coming in to read their lines, and a team of sound effects technicians to create and edit in the audio, it’s much less expensive and delivers a far superior soundtrack.

The use of M.O.S. or “Mit out sound!” was not a formal phrase used by Americans before German directors like Ernst Lubitch, Fritz Lang or Eric von Stroheim were making films in Hollywood with some regularity. (Having worked in the film business for many years, I and many others believe the consensus is that von Stroheim was the true originator of the phrase.)

For a while in the middle of the last century, one might often hear someone (anyone) on a film crew call out, “Ve vill shoot zis zeen mit out sound!” and a round of laughter would follow. The phrase was as much a welcome moment of relief from the pressure (or tedium) of the shoot day, as it was an actual instruction on the set.

Nowadays, an assistant director with a radio link to most of the crew - or, possibly a bullhorn -- will probably be more low key: “Not rolling sound on this one, but keep it down anyway ... alright?!”
-Stephen Maynard, Alamo Heights, Texas (stephen.maynard.2015 gmail.com)

Our assisted living residence here in Brighton (a village in Boston, MA) was used in American Fiction. Alas, none of us was invited to be in it, even as “person reading in library” or “person playing chess in living room”. However, my neighbor’s plant, Matilda flashed by as the actors went down our hallway.
-Maureen Doyle, Boston, Massachusetts (momcdo gmail.com)

Are you including TV? I was music director on Another World and after NBC fired me from that one, three months later they hired me for Passions. (I have an Emmy.) And so, we get “My life is a soap opera.”
-Ron Brawer, New York, New York (ronnierayb gmail.com)

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience? -Adam Smith, economist (5 Jun 1723-1790)

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: